"Real Life Huntly (surveyed from the Clashmach)"
July 2011
Ross Sinclair
The Real Life Gordon’s in Huntly
Huntly is the ancestral home of the Clan Gordon and the ancient seat of Huntly Castle.
"A Gordon for me, a Gordon for me
if you're nae a Gordon your nae use to me the Black Watch is braw, the Seaforths and a'
but the cocky wee Gordon's the pride of them all"
A Gordon for Me by Robert Wilson
The incredible story of the appearance of the Gordon’s in Huntly after the Battle of Bannockburn was only the beginning of 500 years of the most extreme drama. For hundreds of years the Earls and Dukes were some of the most powerful men in Scotland, second only to the Kings and their heirs. Their story illuminates power shifts, battles, intrigue, endless castle building, ransacking and (dis)loyalty to the Kings and Queens of the day, death, disinheritance and finally the lack of an heir leading to the passing of the titles with the death of the Last Duchess of Gordon in 1864. That is with the exception the title of Marquis, which remains nearby to this day with Granville Gordon, 13th Marquis of Huntly and Earl of Aboyne.
During this residency Ross tried to activate and illuminate this incredible story, of which many of the people of Huntly today are often unfamiliar. After an initial period of research, meetings, introductions, and interviews Ross undertook a series of events and performances including; visits to the local Gordon’s Schools, Real Life Trip’s carrying various portraits of Gordon nobility through out Huntly and up the Clashmach, a local hill, All the Real Life Gordon’s in Huntly, an event where all the remaining Gordon’s in Huntly listed in the phone book were invited to a lunch at the Castle and a Real Life Portable Museum tour of Huntly Gordon History, to name but a few.
By meeting with local residents and Gordon connections throughout the world, Ross expanded our and his knowledge of the horizons of Huntly and the impact of the Gordon family worldwide.
To view Ross Sinclair's own website click here.
To view some images from the project please click here.
Selected press;
Huntly Express 26.08.11
Huntly Express 22.07.11
Huntly Express 22.07.11